Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Windsor Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Windsor, used by 99,824 or 35% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Windsor residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The remaining homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Windsor County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Windsor
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Windsor. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of families using oil fell from 106,498 to 99,824, a 6% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Windsor
Between 2016 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 42,621 to 57,954, a 36% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 46,388 to 55,373, a 19% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Windsor
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Windsor. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 14,097 to 36,366, a 158% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Windsor
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 1,820 homes in Windsor are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 219% gain from 2016, when 571 homes utilized active solar heating.
Windsor County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Windsor County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Windsor’s overall number two heating oil consumption varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Windsor was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Windsor County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Windsor County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Windsor homeowners heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Windsor is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Windsor. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Windsor cash heating oil companies serving Windsor include BART Energy Llc and Jam Fuel Llc.
Windsor Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Windsor: 7 companies .
Average Number of Windsor Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 14261
Windsor Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 households in Windsor heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Windsor temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Windsor households rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Windsor County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Windsor County Households | Windsor County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
34 Windsor Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Windsor residences the last heating season, the Windsor community relies on its 34 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Windsor, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Windsor and the surrounding area.
